SpaceX: Mars ship prototype explodes after first intact landing

Elon Musks's Starship rocket has made its first test launch, flight and intact landing – before suddenly exploding minutes later. After a delay to the initial flight, SN10 lifted off from Boca Chica, Texas, reaching an altitude of 10 kilometres, before descending and landing upright, albeit apparently on fire at its base. Three minutes after touchdown and soon after the SpaceX live stream was turned off, the rocket exploded. The landing was at least better than the last two times, where the prototypes crashed down and exploded

[jor]

“Boooom”
“Thanks Ollie. And now this!”

[mixbk-gkqv]

1:17 looks like it's out of a ps 3 game lol

[Ragwortshire]

The video caption says the explosion occurred three minutes after landing, but the timer at landing reads T+6 mins and the timer just before the explosion reads T+14 mins. Is there some explanation for this? Incidentally the SpaceX subreddit gives a duration of eight minutes between landing and RUD, which concurs with the timer.

[josephhazard]

SN10 exploded 14min after landing not 3min
Can you pls inform you better guardian news!

[JCO]

Launched twice within 15 minutes - impressive.

[MrGESE-uese]

Rome was not built in a day. Few more tries and this will work.

[J-gwhe]

As a species, our priorities are weird.

[DavidHernandez-kcel]

three minutes? it was 8 minutes!!! not three

[pakaya]

Wow world most expensive fireworks ☺️.

[meruemujjoooo]

Elon: laughing in the background
Us: why?
Elon: Thats not the funny part it was not insured

[yahahaa]

They’re getting there! Next one, we’ll see a success on all fronts.

[andrewmoonbeam]

Another one smites the Musk! And another one's gone and another one's gone ..

[falconer]

‘Anything can happen in the next half hour’...

[markhense]

I did not realize Guardian employed my 18yr old's online gaming buddies for commentary

[therealKINDLE]

I don't understand why the drastic aims to do this with Rocket propulsion when the aerodynamic design of say a Jet could get you into the stratosphere using the Bernoulli principle.

[capttom]

Don't know what's so funny about this..? In fact, the mission was a success: it launched, it reached its altitude, flipped, flipped again and landed! 👍
They're still learning though..it IS rocket science! 😉

[BlackRose-viyg]

Nothing goes right straight away. He's a clever dude and they will get it sorted

[bfarm]

Well, gotta break a few eggs to make an omlette

[patchthesinclair]

I'm sticking to motorcycles, they seem safer!

[CartooningCuteDrawings]

Space is amazing... Love this rocket. Blast off you goooo